A Not-So-Tarty Combination

To make your cold, winter-heavy heart positively bleed with joy, try the spring blooming combination of the elegant, not-so-tarty,  Mertensia virginica and Dicentra spectabilis, commonly known as Virginia Bluebells and Bleeding Heart. 

Since these plants are spring ephemerals, you will want to plant some other perennials amongst them.   I love the Polygonatum oderatum 'Variegatum' or Variegated Solomon's Seal and Osmunda claytoniana or Interrupted Fern.  To pimp it up a notch, try adding daffodil bulbs, lots of 'em.

All of these plants will fill in nicely over time, plant generously in large areas where possible. Virginia Bluebells are native to New York, and Southern Ontario to East Minnesota, South to N. Carolina, Arkansas and East Kansas preferring found in moist woods, clearings, and river bottoms.  Interrupted Fern is found in much of North America in rich wooded slopes and ledges.  In your garden, grow in part-shade to shade in soil amended with lots of compost and leaves.  Keep fallen leaves on the gardens and soil disturbance to a minimum.   No fertilizer.  No chemicals.

Those clever Brits have their own ancient Bluebell woods.  Positively Magic.

Well, you don't know what we can find.  Why don't you come with me on a magic carpet ride...........